Sliding shelf



March 12, 1968 E ROY W. DUY

SLIDING SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed June 13, 1966 INVENTOR. LEROY w. DUY

W flaw,

772114, al yz W ATTY'S.

//6 mun/5 ""Hmu. Q2 /0/ m4 lUZ March 12, 1968 E ROY W. DUY

SLIDING SHELF 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 13. 1966 United States PatentOflice 3,372,966 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,966 SLIDING SHELF Le RoyW. Duy, Aurora, iii, assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated,Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No.557,134 18 Claims. (Cl. 312341) ABSTRACT 9F THE DISCLGSURE A storagecabinet and sliding shelf construction comprising a cabinet including abody having a front opening therein, a support member disposed in thebody and in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, apair of spaced apart rails mounted within the body upon the supportmember with the longitudinal axes of the rails disposed generallyparallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with the frontopening, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on theforward ends of the rails in general horizontal alignment, a rear pairof lubric glides respectively mounted on the rails in general horizontalalignment and in general longitudinal alignment with the front pair oflubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, and ashelf disposed in the body and including a main panel and a pair of sidepanels integral therewith and a pair of support flanges respectivelymounted on the side panels and extending inwardly therefrom, each of theglides including a lower support surface extending below the associatedone of the support flanges for engagement therewith and an upper supportsurface extending over the associated one of the support flanges forengagement therewith, the shelf being shiftable longitudinally on theglides relative to the nails between a storage position fully disposedWithin the body and an extended position at least partially disposedoutwardly with respect to the body, the shelf being supported upon theglides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof andthe fully extended position thereof.

The present invention relates to storage cabinets, and particularly toimproved sliding shelf assemblies for use therein.

The sliding shelf assembly of the present invention is of generalutility and is useful in a wide variety of types of furniture, :butcertain of the advantages thereof are more fully realized when thesliding shelf assembly is incorporated in :a storage cabinet orbookcase, and accord ingly, the invention will be so described.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved storagecabinet incorporating therein an improved sliding shelf assembly, thevarious parts of the sliding shelf assembly being essentially formed ofsheet metal and being simple in construction and economical inmanufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved sliding shelfassembly for use in a cabinet including a body having a front openingtherein andya support member disposedin the body and in generallongitudinal alignment with the opening, the sliding shelf assemblycomprising a pair of spaced apart rails for mounting within theassociated cabinet body upon the support member therein with thelongitudinal axis of the rails disposed generally parallel to each otherland in longitudinal align ment with the associated front opening, afront pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on forward ends of therails in general horizontal alignment, 2. rear pair of lubric glidesrespectively mounted on the rails in general horizontal alignment withthe front pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardlythereof, and a shelf disposed on the rails and including a main paneland a pair of side panels integral therewith and a pair of supportflanges respectively mounted on the .side panels and extending inwardlytherefrom, each of the glides including a lower support surfaceextending below the associate one of the support flanges for engagementtherewith and an upper support surface extending over the associated oneof the support flanges for engagement therewith, the shelf beingshifta'ble longtitudinally on the rails between a storage position fullydisposed within the associated body and an extended position at leastpartially disposed outwardly with respect to the associated body, theshelf being supported upon the glides in cantilever fashion in both thestorage position thereof and the fully extended position thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved slidingshelf assembly of the type set forth and further including a dependentfront panel on the shelf extending between the side panels thereof andengagable with the front glides to establish the storage position of theshelf within the associated body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved slidingshelf assembly of the type set forth wherein a pair of lubric spacerbuttons is mounted on one of the rails and is positioned to beengageable with the adjacent one of the shelf side panels to control thelateral position of the shelf with respect to the rails, the glides andthe spacer buttons preferably being formed of an ace-tal resin.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved slidingshelf assembly of the type set forth wherein there is provided a shelfstop mounted on the shelf main panel adjacent to the rear thereof anddepending downwardly therefrom and in longitudinal align ment with oneof the rear luhric glides, the shelf stop being engageable with theassociated one of the rear lubric glides to limit the distance that theshelf can be pulled outwardly with respect to the rails.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedstorage cabinet and sliding shelf construction incorporating therein theimproved sliding shelf assembly of the present invention.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particul-ar arrangementand construction of the sliding shelf assembly and the various partsthereof, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating featuresthereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further obiects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a storage cabinet or bookcasehaving mounted therein a sliding shelf assembly made in accordance withand embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section through thestorage cabinet of FIG. 2 along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged view with certain portions broken awayillustrating the front of the shelf of FIG. 3, the view being along theline 4-4 therein;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in yertical section along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in horizontal section with certain portions broken awayalong the line 66 of FIG, 4; and

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the sliding shelf assembly of thepresent invention.

Referring now particularly to FlGS. 1 to 4 and 6 of the drawings, thereis illustrated a storage cabinet or bookcase incorporating therein aSliding shelf assembly 200 made in accordance with and embodying theprinciples of the present invention. The storage cabinet 100 includes agenerally rectangular base 101 having a generally rectangular front wall102, a like rectangular rear wall (not shown) and a pair of parallelgenerally rectangular side walls 103 interconnecting the front and rearwalls, all of the parts named being firmly secured as by welding toprovide the rigid base 101. There also is provided on the bottom of thebase 101 a plurality of feet 104 (see FIG. 2) for supporting the base101 upon an underlying support surface. Mounted upon the base 101 is acabinet body 105, the body 105 including a generally rectangular rearwall 106 extending upwardly from the base 101 and having integral withthe vertical side edges thereof forwardly extending side walls 107extending along the edges of the base 101 to the front thereof. Thevertical front edges of the side walls 107 carry front flanges 108extending inwardly toward each other and the inner edges of the frontflanges 100 further carry rearwardly directed inturned flanges 109 (seeFIG. 6). The inner edges of the front flanges 108 serve to define thelateral sides of a front opening in the storage cabinet 100.

Disposed within the body 105 is a front frame 110 including a pair ofU-shaped channels 111 (see FIG. 6), each of the channels 111 including amain wall 112 extending vertically the entire height of the body 105 andcarrying on the vertical edges thereof outwardly directed side flanges113. The rearmost ones of the side flanges 113 carry vertical andrectangularly shaped slots 114 therein for adjustably receiving a shelfas will be described more fully hereinafter. Closing the bottom of thebody 105 and resting upon the base 101 is a bottom shelf 115 essentiallyrectangular in shape and closing the area bounded by the rear wall 106and the side walls 107, the bottom wall 115 carrying a dependent frontflange 116 thereon disposed substantially in the same plane as the sidefront flanges 108. The upper end of the storage cabinet 100 is closed bya top 120 generally rectangular in shape and having dimensions slightlygreater than that of the base 101 (see FIG. 2), the top 120 having anedging 121 extending downwardly therefrom and around the peripherythereof.

There further is provided on each end of the storage cabinet 100 afinishing panel 125, each of the finishing panels 125 including a mainwall 126 (see FIG. 6 also) which is formed substantially flat andrectangular in shape and covering the outer surface of the adjacent sidewall 107. Each of the vertical front and rear edges of the main Wall 126has integral therewith a rounded and inwardly directed end flange 127that respectively carry on the inner edge thereof an inturned flange128.

Disposed within the storage cabinet 120 at one of a plurality ofadjusted positions vertically thereof is a shelf 130 supported upon apair of brackets 150. The shelf 130 includes a generally rectangularmain panel 131 formed of sheet metal and having integral therewith aforwardly directed forward portion 132 having a width less than that ofthe main panel 131; preferably the width of the main panel 131 is onlyslightly less than the distance between the side walls 107 of thecabinet 100, whereas the width of the forward portion 132 is slightlyless than the distance between the vertical front channels 111 of thefront frame 110. Integral with the forward edge of the forward portion132 is a depending front flange 133 on the lower edge of which isprovided a rearwardly directed bottom flange 134. Each side edge of themain panel 131 has a depending side flange 135 thereon and the rear edgeof the main panel 131 also has a depending rear flange 136 thereon.There further is provided for reinforcement purposes a pair ofreinforcing channels 140, the channels 140 being disposed on theundersurface of the main panel 131 and being disposed laterally withrespect thereto and positioned between the mounting brackets 150. Eachof the reinforcing channels 140 includes a main wall 141 spaceddownwardly from the underside of the main panel 131 and having on thelongitudinally extending edges thereof upwardly directed side flanges142. The side flanges 142 extend up to the underside of the main panel131 and have integral therewith outwardly directed attachment flanges143. The attachment flanges 143 are secured to the shelf main panel 131also by Welding. As a result of the described construction, the shelf130 has a very rigid and strong construction.

In order to mount the self 130 upon the front frame 110, a pair ofmounting brackets has been provided, the mounting brackets 150 beingidentical except that one is the mirror image of the other, whereby onlyone of the brackets 150 will be described in detail and like referencenumerals applied to like parts of both. The bracket 150 includes a mainwall 151 which has a substantially horizontal upper edge andsubstantially vertically arranged front and rear edges and an upwardlyrearwardly inclined bottom edge. The forward edge has an inturned frontflange (not shown) thereon directed inwardly and carrying on the inneredge thereof a pair of vertically spaced apart hooks 153. The hooks 153are spaced apart and dimensioned such that they will fit into anassociated pair of the vertically elongated slots 114 provided in anadjacent channel frame member 111, whereby to mount the bracket 150 andthe associated shelf 130 thereon. Integral with the upper edge of themain wall 151 is an inwardly directed top flange (not shown) whichcarries on the inner edge thereof a depending inner flange 155 which hason the forward end thereof an outwardly extending support arm (notshown) which is disposed against an inner surface of the associatedchannel 111 when the self 130 is in the mounted position thereof, thesupport arm being disposed beneath the adjacent edge of the forwardportion 132 and extending forwardly substantially to the front flange133. The brackets 150 are fixedly secured to the main panel 131 and theforward portion 132 as by welding, the inner flanges 155 also beingwelded to the shelf side flange 135. As a result of the describedconstruction, the brackets 150 carrying the self 130 can be readilymounted upon the front frame 110, the shelf 130 extending rearwardlytherefrom and supported in cantilever fashion thereby, no other supportbeing required therefor. More specifically, the hooks 153 on thebrackets 150 engage in an adjacent pair of the slots 114 in the rearedges of the front frame 110. The front of each of the brackets 150bears against the rear side flange 113 of the associated front frame110, also thereby to assist in the support of the shelf 130. Byproviding a series of horizontally aligned slots 114 in the front frame110, the position of the shelf 130 vertically with respect to the frontframe 110 can be readily manually adjusted.

Further details of construction of the storage cabinet 100, the body 105and the front frame 110 and top 120 thereof, and further details ofconstruction of the shelf 130 and the brackets 150 therefor are setforth in the copending application for United States Letters Patent Ser.No. 538,423, filed March 29, 1966, by Kenneth D. Schreyer, for StorageConstruction, the description thereof being incorporated herein byreference.

Mounted upon the shelf 130 is the improved sliding shelf assembly 200made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the presentinvention, the sliding shelf assembly 200 including a lefthand rail 201,a righthand rail 211, a plurality of shelf glides 220, a pair of spacerbuttons 230, a shelf 240 and a pair of shelf stops 250. As is bestillustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the rails 201 and211 are disposed on either side of the sliding shelf 240 and arearranged with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed generally parallelto each other and disposed outwardly toward the lefthand edge of theassociated front opening in the cabinet 100 as illustrated.

The lefthand rail 201 is formed of sheet metal bent to provide a bottomwall 202, a side wall 203 and a top wall 204. The bottom wall 202 isrelatively narrow and extends substantially the depth of the cabinet 100and has three mounting holes therein that receive therethrough bolts 218that extend downwardly through aligned openings in the shelf main panel131, the lower ends of the bolts 218 carrying nuts 219 thereby to boltthe lefthand rail 201 in the operative position on the shelf 130.Extending upwardly from the outer longitudinally extending edge of thebottorn wall 202 is the side wall 203, the vertical extent of the sidewall 203 being less than the width of the bottom wall 202 asillustrated. The upper edge of the side wall 203 carries the inwardlydirected top wall 204 that is disposed substantially parallel to thebottom wall 202, both the bottom wall 202 and the top wall 204 beingdisposed substantially normal to the side wall 203. The righthand rail211 is formed of sheet metal bent to provide a bottom wall 212, a sidewall 213 and a top wall 214. The bottom wall 212 is relatively narrowand extends substantially the depth of the cabient 100 and has threemounting holes therein that receive therethrough bolts 218 that extenddownwardly through aligned openings in the shelf main panel 131, thelower ends of the bolts 218 carrying nuts 219 thereby to bolt therighthand rail 211 in operative position on the shelf 130. Extendingupwardly from the outer longitudinally extending edge of the bottom wall212 is the side wall 213, the vertical extent of the side wall 213 beingless than the width of the bottom wall 212 as illustrated. The upperedge of the side wall 213 carries the inwardly directed top wall 214that is disposed substantially parallel to the bottom wall 212, both thebottom wall 212 and the top wall 214 being disposed substantially normalto the side wall 213.

The sliding shelf 240 is mounted upon two pairs of shelf glides 220, theshelf glides 220 all being substantially of the same constructionwhereby like reference numerals have been applied to all four shelfglides 220. As may be best seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, each shelf glide220 includes a body 221 that is generally block shaped and rectangularin all cross sections, the body 221 having on the outwardly disposedwall thereof a pair of longitudinally spaced apart positioning studs 222for mounting the shelf glide 220 upon the associated rail 201 or 211,the rail side walls 203 and 213 having pairs of openings therein forreceiving the positioning studs 222 therethrough. There further isprovided an opening 223 through the body 221 to receive a bolt 224extending therethrough and engaging a nut, thereby firmly to mount theshelf glides 226 with respect to the associated rail 201 or 211 as thecase may be. In this connection it is noted that a front pair of thelubric glides 220 is provided at the front ends of the rails 201 and 211in both vertical and horizontal alignment with each other, and a rearpair of the lubric glides 220 is mounted on the rails 201 and 211 ingeneral horizontal alignment with each other and in general longitudinalalignment with the front pair of lubric glides 220 and spaced only ashort distance rearwardly thereof. The inner upper surface of each ofthe glide bodies 221 has thereon a lower support surface 225 useful insupporting the associated shelf 246' for sliding movement with respectto the rails 201 and 211. Integral with the inner edge of the glide body221 is an upstanding flange 226 that extends upwardly from the lowersupport surface 225 and carries on the upper end thereof an integral andoutwardly directed top flange 227. The outer surface of the upstandingflange 226 provides an outwardly directed vertical bearing surface 228and the underside of the top flange 227 provides an upper supportsurface 229 spaced a predetermined distance away from and overlying thelower support surface 225. I

There also is associated with the lefthand pair of shelf glides 220 asviewed in FIGS. 6 and 7 a pair of spacer buttons 230 also formed oflubric material and mounted upon the rail side wall 203. Morespecifically, each of the spacer buttons 230 includes a mounting stud231 extending into an opening in the lefthand side wall 203 forfrictional en agernent therewith and a head 232 integral with the stud231 and disposed on the inner side of the side wall 203 and providing abearing surface 233 for engagement with the associated shelf 240. Theforward one of the spacer buttons 230 is disposed in horizontalalignment with the forward lefthand shelf glide 220, (see FIG. 4 also)and the rear one of the spacer buttons 230 is disposed slightly to therear of the rearmost lefthand shelf glide 220.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the shelfglides 220 and the spacer butttons 230' be formed of a lubric material,the preferred material being i a synthetic organic resin, the preferredresin being an acetal resin such as that sold under the trademarkDelr1n.

Mounted upon the rails 201 and 211 is the shelf 240, the shelf 240 beingformed of sheet metal bent to provide a main panel 241, a front panel242, side panels 243, lower bearing flanges 244, curved inner panels245, upper hearing flanges 246 and a rear flange 247. The main panel 241is essentially rectangular in shape and has a width such that it isequal to about one-third of the distance between the opposed innersurfaces of the front main channels 111, and has a length slightly lessthan the depth of the cabinet 1th) and more particularly a lengthapproximating the front to back length of the associated shelf 130.Formed on the forward edge of the main panel 241 is the front panel 242which extends downwardly therefrom and extends the entire lengththereof. The longitudinal side edges of the main panel 241 have integraltherewith the side panels 243 which also extend downwardly and aredisposed substantially normal to the plane of the main panel 241, thelower edges of the side panels 243 respectively carrying the lowerbearing flanges 244 extending inwardly therefrom and disposedsubstantially normal thereto. The undersurfaces of the lower bearingflanges 244 are disposed upon the lower support surfaces 225 of theshelf glides 220 to be supported thereby. The inner edges of the lowerbearing flanges 244 carry thereon upwardly and inwardly curved innerpanels 245, respectively, the upper edges of the inner panels 245carrying the outwardly directed upper bearing flanges 246. The distancebetween the underside of the lower bearing flanges 244 and the uppersurface of the upper bearing flanges 246 is just slightly less than thedistance between the lower support surface 225 and the upper supportsurface 229 on the shelf glides 220, whereby the bearing flanges 244 and246 can be disposed between the support surfaces 225 and 229 on theshelf glides 220. The rear edge of the main panel 241 carries thedownturned rear flange 247, the rear flange 247 having the ends thereofspaced inwardly with respect to the inner panels 245.

By the above-described construction, the sliding shelf 240 is mountedfor sliding movement with respect to the shelf glides 220 between astorage position disposed within the cabinet and illustrated by solidlines in FIGS, 3, 6 and 7 and an extended position illustrated by dashedlines in FIGS. 3 and 7 wherein a major portion of the shelf 240 isdisposed beyond the front of the cabinet 100. When the shelf 24!? is inthe storage position thereof illustrated by solid lines in FIGS. 3 and7, the major portion thereof is disposed rearwardly or to the right withrespect to the rear pair of shelf glides 220, whereby the lower bearingflanges 244 rest upon the lower support surfaces 225 on the rear pair ofshelf glides 220 and serve as a fulcrum for pivoting the portion of theshelf 240 in front of or to the left of the rear pair of shelf glides220 upwardly, whereby the upper bearing flanges 246 contact the uppersupport surfaces 229 on the front pair of shelf glides 220. Conversely,when the shelf 240 is in the fully withdrawn or extended position,illustrated by dashed lines in FIGS. 3 and 7, the lower bearing flanges244 rest upon the associated lower support surfaces 225 of the frontpair of shelf glides 22%), and the upper bearing flanges 246 restagainst the upper support surfaces 229. Accordingly, the shelf 24% issupported upon the glides 220 in cantilever fashion in both the storageposition thereof and the fully extended position thereof.

The spacer buttons 230 engage the outer surface of the lefthand sidepanel 243 on the shelf 240, and more specifically the bearing surface233 is disposed away from the vertical surfaces 228 a distance such asto provide only a slight clearance for the associated side panel 243 andthe associated inner panel 245, whereby the spacer buttons 230 incooperation with the lefthand shelf glides 220 also control the lateralmovement of the shelf 240 during the movement thereof between itsstorage and extended positions. Furthermore, the front panel 242abutting against the forward surfaces of the front shelf glides 220establishes the full storage position of the shelf 240. To establish thefully extended position of the shelf 240, a pair of shelf stops 250 isprovided adjacent to the rear thereof, the main panel 241 moreparticularly being provided with a pair of square openings therein ingeneral longitudinal alignment with the top flanges 227 of the rearmostshelf glides 220. Each of the shelf stops 250 has a bifurcated shank 251having a square periphery frictionally engaged in the associated squareopenings respectively in the shelf main panel 241 and extendingdownwardly therethrough, the upper ends of the shank Z51 carrying squareheads 252 having peripheries greater than the associated square openingsin the main panel 241, thereby to mount the shelf stops 250 upon theshelf 240. The shanks 251 of the shelf stops 250 extend downwardly andare disposed in longitudinal alignment with the top flanges 227 of therearmost shelf glides 220, and as is illustrated diagrammatically inFIG. 3 by dashed lines, abut against the rear surfaces of the topflanges 2.27 when the shelf 240 is pulled to the fully extended positionthereof. Preferably the shelf stops 250 are formed of a syntheticorganic plastic resin, the preferred resin being an acetal resin such asthat sold under the trademark Delrin.

Although the sliding shelf assembly 260 has been illustrated as mountedon the shelf 130 in the cabinet 100, it will be understood that therails 201 and 211 may be mounted upon any suitable support surface andwill sewe equally well when so mounted to support the shelf 240 forsliding movement between a storage position thereof and an extendedposition thereof with respect to the rails 201 and 211.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been providedan improved sliding shelf assembly and an improved storage cabinetincorporating such a sliding shelf assembly therein which fulfill all ofthe objects and advantages set forth above. While there has beendescribed what is at present considered to be the preferred embodimentof the invention, it will be understood that various modifications maybe made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage cabinet and sliding shelf construction comprising a cabinetincluding a body having a front opening therein, a support memberdisposed in said body and in general longitudinal alignment with saidfront opening, a pair of spaced apart rails mounted within said bodyupon said support member with the longitudinal axes of said railsdisposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignmentwith said front opening, a front pair of lubric glides respectivelymounted on the forward ends of said rails in general horizontalalignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on saidrails in general horizontal alignment and in general longitudinalalignment with said front pair of lubric glides and spaced at shortdistance rearwardly thereof, and a shelf disposed in said body andincluding a main panel and a pair of side panels integral therewith anda pair of support flanges respectively mounted on said side panels andextending inwardly therefrom, each of said glides including a lowersupport surface extending below the associated one of said supportflanges for engagement therewith and an upper support surface extendingover the associated one of said support flanges for engagementtherewith, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally on said guidesrelative to said rails between a storage position fully disposed withinsaid body and an extended position at least partially disposed outwardlywith respect to said body, and shelf being supported upon said glides incantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fullyextended position thereof.

2. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 1,wherein said lubric glides are formed of an acetal resin.

3. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 1, andfurther comprising a dependent panel on the front of said shelf andengageable with said front glides to establish the storage position ofsaid shelf within said body.

4. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 1, andfurther comprising a pair of lubric spacer buttons mounted on one ofsaid rails and engageable with the adjacent one of said shelf sidepanels to control the lateral position of said shelf with respect tosaid rails.

5. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 1, andfurther comprising a shelf stop mounted on said shelf adjacent to therear thereof and in longitudinal alignment with one of said rear lubricglides and engagable therewith to limit the distance that said shelf canbe pulled outwardly with respect to said body.

6. A storage cabinet and sliding shelf construction comprising a cabinetincluding a body having a front opening therein, a support memberdisposed in said body and in general longitudinal alignment with saidfront opening, a pair of spaced apart rails mounted within said bodyupon said support member with the longitudinal axes of said railsdisposed generally parallel to each other and in longitudinal alignmentwith said front opening, each of said rails including a bottom wall forattachment to said support member and a side wall extending upwardlyfrom the outer edge of said bottom wall, a front pair of lubric glidesrespectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail side walls ingeneral horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glides respectivelymounted on said rail side walls in general horizontal alignment and ingeneral longitudinal alignment with said front pair of lubric glides andspaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each of said lubric glidesincluding a body mounted on the associated rail side wall and anupstanding flange integral with said glide body and spaced from theinner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flange on theupper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward the associatedrail side wall, said glide body providing a lower support surface andsaid glide top flange providing an upper support surface and said glideside flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearing surface,and a shelf disposed in said cabinet body and including a main panel anda pair of side panels integral therewith and extending downwardlytherefrom and a pair of lower support flanges respectively on the loweredges of said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom and restingupon said lower support surfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge ofsaid lower support flange and extending upwardly therefrom along saidvertical bearing surface carrying an upper support flange on the 9 upperedge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to saidupper support surface, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally on saidguides relative to said body between a storage position fully disposedwithin said body and .an extended position disposed outwardly withrespect to said body, said shelf being supported upon said glides incantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof and the fullyextended position thereof with said lower support flanges contacting theassociated ones of said lower support surfaces and said upper supportflanges contacting the associated ones of said upper support surfaces asrequired.

'7. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 6, andfurther comprising a dependent panel on the front of said shelf mainpanel extending between said side panels and downwardly to said lowersupport flanges, said front panel being engagable with the forwardportion of said front glides to establish the storage position of saidshelf within said body.

8. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 6, andfurther comprising a pair of lubric spacer buttons mounted on the sidewall of one of said rails adjacent to said lubric glides, said spacerbuttons being engagable with the adjacent one of said shelf side panelsto control the lateral position of said shelf with respect to saidrails.

9. The cabinet and sliding shelf construction set forth in claim 6, andfurther comprising a shelf stop mounted on said main panel adjacent tothe rear thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and in longitudinalalignment with one of said rear lubric glides, said shelf stop beingengagable with the associated one of said rear lubric glides uponmovement of said shelf to the fully extended position thereof to limitthe distance that said shelf can be pulled outwardly with respect tosaid body.

lti. A sliding shelf assembly for use in a cabinet including a bodyhaving a front opening therein and support member disposed in the bodyand in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, saidsliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails formounting Within the associated cabinet body upon the support membertherein with the longitudinal axes of the rails disposed generallyparallel to each other and in longitudinal alignment with the associatedfront opening, a front pair of lubric glides respectively mounted on theforward ends of said rails in general horizontal alignment, a rear pairof lubric glides respectively mounted on said rails in generalhorizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with saidfront pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardlythereof, and a shelf disposed on said rails and including a main paneland a pair of side panels integral therewith and a pair of supportflanges respectively mounted on said side panels and extending inwardlytherefrom, each of said glides including a lower support surfaceextending below the associated one of said support flanges forengagement therewith and an upper support surface extending over theassociated one of said support flanges for engagement therewith, saidshelf being shiftable longitudinally oh said guides relative to saidrails between a storage position fully disposed within the associatedbody and an extended position at least partially disposed outwardly withrespect to the associated body, said shelf being supported upon saidglides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof andthe fully extended position thereof.

11. The sliding shelf assembly set forth in claim 10, wherein saidlubric glides are formed of an acetal resin.

12. The sliding shelf assembly set forth in claim 1%, and furthercomprising a dependent panel on the front f said shelf and engagablewith said front glides to establish the storage position of said shelfwithin said rails.

13, The sliding shelf assembly set forth in claim 10, and furthercomprising a pair of lubric spacer buttons mounted on one of said railsand engagable with the adjacent one 16 of said shelf side panels tocontrol the lateral position of said shelf with respect to said rails.

14. The sliding shelf assembly set forth in claim it), and furthercomprising a shelf stop mounted on said shelf adjacent to the rearthereof and extending downwardly therefrom and in longitudinal alignmentwith one of said rear lubric glides, said shelf stop being engagablewith the associated one of said rear lubric glide upon movement of saidshe f to the fully extended position thereof thereby to limit thedistance that said shelf can be pulled outwardly with respect to saidrails.

15 A sliding shelf assembly for mounting in a cabinet including a bodyhaving a front opening therein and a support member disposed in the bodyand in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, saidsliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails formountaing within the associated body upon the support member thereinwith the longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel toeach other and in longitudinal alignment with the associated frontopening, each of said rails including a bottom Wall having structurethereon for attachment to the associated support member and a side wallextending upwardly from the outer edge of said outer wall, a front pairof lubric glides respectively mounted on the forward portions of saidrail side walls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubricglides respectively mounted on said rail side walls in generalhorizontal alignment and in general longitudinal alignment with saidfront pair of lubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardlythereof, each of said lu bric glides including a body mounted on theassociated rail side wall and an upstanding flange integral with saidglide body and spaced from the inner surface of the associated rail sidewall and a top flange On the upper end of said side flange extendingoutwardly toward the associated rail side wall, said glide bodyproviding a lower support surface and said glide top flange providing anupper support surface and said glide side flange providing an outwardlydirected vertical bearing surface, and a shelf disposed on said guiderails and including a main panel and a pair of side panels integral withthe longitudinal side edges thereof and extending downwardly therefromand a pair of lower support flanges respectively on the lower adges ofsaid side panels and extending inwardly therefrom and resting upon saidlower suppport surfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge of said lowersupport flange and extending upwardly therefrom along said verticalbearing surface and carrying an upper support flange on the upper edgethereof and extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to said uppersupport surface, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally along saidguides relative to said rails "between a storage position fully disposedwithin the associated body and an extended position disposed outwardlywith respect to the associated body, said shelf being supported uponsaid glides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereofand the fully extended position thereof with said lower support flangescontacting the associated ones of said lower support surfaces and saidupper support flanges contacting the associated ones of said uppersupport surfaces as required.

16. A sliding shelf assembly for mounting in a cabinet including a bodyhaving a front opening therein and a support member disposed in the bodyand in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, saidsliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails formounting within the associated body upon the support member therein withthe longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to eachother and in longitudinal alignment with the associated front opening,each of said rails including a bottom wall having structure thereon forattachment to the associated support member and a side wall extendingupwardly from the outer edge of said outer wall, a front pair of lubricglides respectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail sideWalls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glidesrespectively mounted on said rail side walls in general horizontalalignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair oflubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each ofsaid lubric glides including a body mounted on the associated rail sideWall and an upstanding flange integral with said glide body and spacedfrom the inner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flangeon the upper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward theassociated rail side wall, said glide body providing a lower supportsurface and said glide top flange providing an upper support surface andsaid glide flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearingsurface, and a shelf disposed on said guide rails and including a mainpanel and a pair of side panels integral with the longitudinal sideedges thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of lowersupport flanges respectively on the lower edges of said side panels andextending inwardly therefrom and resting upon said lower supportsurfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge of said lower support flangeand extending upwardly therefrom along said vertical bearing surface andcarrying an upper support flange on the upper edge thereof and extendingoutwardly therefrom and adjacent to said upper support surface, and adependent panel on the front of said shelf main panel extending betweensaid side panels and downwardly to said lower support flanges, saidshelf being shiftttble longitudinally along said rails between a storageposition fully disposed within the associated body and an extendedposition disposed outwardly with respect to the associated body, saidfront panel being engagaible with the forward portions of said frontglides to establish the storage position of said shelf with respect tosaid rails, said shelf being supported upon said glides in cantileverfashion in both the storage position thereof and the fully extendedposition thereof with said lower support flanges contacting theassociated ones of said lower support surfaces and said upper supportflanges contacting the associated ones of said upper support surfaces asrequired.

17. A sliding shelf assembly for mounting in a cabinet including a bodyhaving a front opening therein and a support member disposed in the bodyand in general longitudinal alignment with the front opening, saidsliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails formounting within the associated body upon the support member therein withthe longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to eachother and in longitudinal alingrnent with the associated front opening,each of said rails including a bottom Wall having structure thereon forattachment to the associated support member and a side wall extendingupwardly from the outer edge of said outer wall, a front pair of lubricglides respectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail sidewalls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glidesrespectively mounted on said rail side Walls in general horizontalalignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair oflubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each ofsaid lubric glides including a body mounted on the associated rail sideWall and an upstanding flange integral with said glide body and spacedfrom the inner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flangeon the upper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward theassociated rail side wall, said glide body providing a lower supportsurface and said glide top flange providing an upper support surface andsaid glide side flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearingsurface, a pair of lubric spacer buttons mounted on the side wall of oneof said rails adjacent to said lubric glides, and a shelf disposed onsaid guide rails and including a main panel and a pair of side panelsintegral with the longitudinal side edges thereof and extendingdownwardly therefrom and a pair of lower support flanges respectively onthe lower edges of said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom andresting upon said lower support surfaces, an inner panel on the inneredge of said lower support flange and extending upwardly therefrom alongsaid vertical bearing surface and carrying an upper support flange onthe upper edge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent tosaid upper support surface, said shelf being shiftable longitudinallyalong said rails between a storage position fully disposed within theassociated body and an extended position dispose-d outwardly withrespect to the associated body, said shelf being supported upon saidglides in cantilever fashion in both the storage position thereof andthe fully extended position thereof with said lower support flangescontacting the associated ones of said lower support surfaces and saidupper support flanges contacting the associated ones of said uppersupport surfaces as required with said spacer buttons being engagablewith the adjacent one of said shelf side panels to control the lateralposition of said shelf with respect to said rails.

1%. A sliding shelf assembly for mounting in a cabinet including a bodyhaving a front opening therein and a support member disposed in the bodyand in general longitudinal alingment with the front opening, saidsliding shelf assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails formounting within the associated body upon the support member therein withthe longitudinal axes of said rails disposed generally parallel to eachother and in longitudinal alignment with the associated front opening,each of said rails including a bottom Wall having structure thereon forattachment to the associated support member and a side wall extendingupwardly from the outer edge of said outer wall, a front pair of lubricglides respectively mounted on the forward portions of said rail sidewalls in general horizontal alignment, a rear pair of lubric glidesrespectively mounted on said rail side walls in general horizontalalignment and in general longitudinal alignment with said front pair oflubric glides and spaced a short distance rearwardly thereof, each ofsaid lubric glides including a body mounted on the associated rail sidewall and an upstanding flange integral with said glide body and spacedfrom the inner surface of the associated rail side wall and a top flangeon the upper end of said side flange extending outwardly toward theassociated rail side wall, said glide body providing a lower supportsurface and said glide top flange providing an upper support surface andsaid glide side flange providing an outwardly directed vertical bearingsurface, a shelf disposed on said guide rails and including a main paneland a pair of side panels integral with the longitudinal side edgesthereof and extending downwardly therefrom and a pair of lower supportflanges respectively on the lower edges of said side panels andextending inwardly therefrom and resting upon said lower supportsurfaces, an inner panel on the inner edge of said lower support flangeand extending upwardly therefrom along said vertical bearing surface andcarrying an upper support flange on the upper edge thereof and extendingoutwardly therefrom and adjacent to said upper support surface, and ashelf stop mounted on said main panel adjacent to the rear thereof andextending downwardly therefrom and in longitudinal alignment with one ofsaid rear lubric glides, said shelf being shiftable longitudinally alongsaid rails between a storage position fully disposed Within theassociated body and an extended position disposed outwardly with respectto the associated body, said shelf stop being engagable with theassociated one of said rear lubric glides upon movement of said shelf tothe fully extended position thereof to limit the distance that saidshelf can be pulled outwardly with respect to said rails, said shelfbeing supported upon said lubric glides in cantilever fashion in boththe storage position thereof and the fully extended position thereofwith said lower support flanges contacting the associated ones of saidlower support surfaces and said upper support flanges contacting theassociated ones of said upper support surfaces as required.

(References on following page) 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,759,773References Cited 7/1908 Montague 312-346 X 2872048 Seward 5 7/1950Miller e-t a1. 312-441 5 5/1951 Drake 312-348 8/1952 Buchy et a1. 312341Wilmer et a1 312-341 Lhota 312-341 Yorinks 312-343 X Cooper 312-442 Lake108-402 Abernathy et a1. 312-343 X JAMES T. McCALL, Primary Examiner.

